Marin and Sonoma Cheese Trail

Marin County

Marin French Cheese, Petaluma

Start at the oldest cheese company in the country for free samples of brie and camembert, a cafe and a picnic by the pond. Open daily from 11am to 5pm. See our Marin French Cheese page.

Nicasio Valley Cheese, Nicasio

The Lafranchi family makes organic farmstead cheeses such as Foggy Morning, Tomino and Loma Alta from its own herd on Nicasio Valley Road. The shop is open daily from 10am to 5pm. The Cheese Trail notes a window into the creamery and tours from April to October; check the farm's website for dates. The village of Nicasio, a single block, is a few minutes away.

Point Reyes Station

The old Cowgirl Creamery barn in Point Reyes Station is no longer a Cowgirl shop; Cowgirl closed it in 2022. The Cheese Trail lists the barn, now home to West Marin Ferments, and the Palace Market grocery as places to buy local cheese in town.

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, north of Point Reyes Station

On the Giacomini dairy above Tomales Bay. The Marketplace is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm without booking; tastings start at $45 and are booked online. Farm tours are paused. See our Point Reyes Farmstead page.

Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Tomales

A goat and sheep dairy at 5488 Middle Road. A public tour on the first Sunday of every month, from 1 to 3pm, walks you through the milking parlor and up to the pastures and ends with a tasting. Private two-hour tours cost $300 for up to six people and $50 for each extra guest, at 11am or 1pm any day. A self-serve cheese shop by the front gate is open around the clock. Set your satnav to Toluma Farms, as some get the address wrong. See our Toluma Farms page.

Southern Sonoma

Petaluma Creamery, Petaluma

The creamery store at 711 Western Avenue sells Petaluma Creamery and Spring Hill cheeses, with free samples of cheese and ice cream, a $5 grilled cheese and barbecue. Open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Achadinha Cheese Company, Petaluma

The Pacheco family's goat and cow farm takes visitors only by booking. The farm tour costs $45 and lasts about an hour and three quarters, with a cheese plant tour, tasting and time with the animals; it runs on set Saturdays at 11am. Cheesemaking classes cost $120 with lunch. There are no drop-ins and no pets, and you should wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty.

Valley Ford

The Cheese Trail route ends in the village of Valley Ford, home of Valley Ford Cheese, which makes Swiss and Italian-style cheeses from Jersey milk. We could not confirm its current shop hours, so check before you go.

More Stops Nearby

In Petaluma, the Petaluma Cheese Shop pours with Barber Cellars wines in the Taste Petaluma room at 120 Washington Street. In Sebastopol, Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers at The Barlow serves cheese boards Thursday to Monday, 11am to 6pm. In Sonoma, The Epicurean Connection runs hands-on cheesemaking classes.

Planning the Drive

Allow two days for everything, or one for Marin alone. Book Point Reyes tastings and any farm tour before you set out, and remember that the Point Reyes Marketplace closes on Sundays while Toluma's public tour is on the first Sunday of the month. Mobile signal is weak in West Marin, so download maps first.